Securing means for outboard motors



M. D. CONSOLO ET AL SECURING MEANS FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS June 10, 1952 2SHEETS- SHEET 1 Filed June 18, 1948 M/TRNEYS June 10, 1952 M. D. coNsoLoET Ax. 2,600,095

SECURING MEANS FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed June 18, 1948 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2INVENTOR M ATTO EYS Patented June 10, 1952 SECURING MEANS FOR OUTBOARDMOTQRS Michael D. Consolo, Wilkinsburg, and George V. Clanton,Jamestown, Pa.; said Consolo assigner to `said Clanton Application June18, 1948, Serial No. 33,788

1 Claim. l

The invention relates to securing devices for outboard motors of boats.

Outboard motors forboats commonly comprise screw clamp devices fordetachably mounting the motor on the transom or stern-board of a boatand usually the clamping device has two clamping screws. In servicethese clamps are subjected to severe vibration and stresses andconsequently there is considerable tendency for the clamps to loosen andpermit dismounting and injury of the motor apparatus. If dismountingoccurs when a boat is traversing deep water there is danger ofirretrievable loss of the motor and, even if a submerged motor berecovered, an expensive overhaul is necessary to putit in satisfactoryworking condition.

The general object of the present invention is to provide securing meanscapable of cooperation with the mounting means of a conventionaloutboard motor to prevent the detachment and even substantialdisplacement of the mounting means in relation to a boat transom onwhich the motor is mounted.

It is also an object of the invention to provide securing means suitablefor use with motor mounting devices differing considerably in form andconstruction.

Another object of the invention is to provide securing means foroutboard motors adapted for use on boats having different forms of sternconstruction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lockable securingmeans for outboard motors constructed to permit the locking means usedwith the securing means to serve to lock the motor in inoperativeposition with its propeller raised out of the water.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a securing device foroutboard motors that cannot readily be tampered with.

Another object of the invention is to provide securing means of thecharacter specified that is simply constructed, of light weight, amplystrong, easily manipulated in use and susceptible of manufacture at lowcost.

With the vforegoing and other ancillary or incidental objects in viewthe invention consists in certain forms, combinations and arrangementsof parts hereinafter described and explained with reference to theaccompanying drawings and defined in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an outboard motor and a portion of a boattransom showing the motor provided with the securing means of thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with themajor part of the motor proper broken away and with said motor and itsdriven shaft swung to a horizontal position so that the propeller andrudder (which are broken away and omitted from the drawing) are raisedin known manner to a position above the water level.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. `4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4--4 ofFig. 1. 1

Figs. 5 and 6 are face and side elevation view s, respectively, of oneof the parts of the securing means.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation showing a modified form of boat transom anda correspondingly modified construction of the securing means embodyingthe invention, a large part of the outboard motor being omitted in thisview.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion of the securing meansshown in Fig. 7 arranged for use in connection with a plain boat transomsuch as is shcwnin Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of securing means of a third form ofconstruction.

Referring in detail to the construction illustrated in the drawings andfirst to the form shown in Figs. 1-4, II designates as an entirety aboat motor of outboard type and conventional construction. This outboardmotor comprises the motor proper I2, a shaft-enclosing sleeve I3 rigidlyattached to the frame of motor I2, a motor-driven shaft I 4 within thesleeve I 3, and a. mounting bracket I5 in which the sleeve I3 isswivelled. To permit illustration on a larger scale the lower parts ofthe sleeve I3, shaft I4 and the usual rudder and propeller associatedwith these parts have been broken away and omitted since the presentinvention is not concerned with them.

The mounting bracket I5 of the motor is provided, in accordance with theusual practice, with a pair of clamps I6 which are swivelled onoppositely facing trunnions of bracket I5 and secured on the trunnionsby a through-bolt I'I. Each of the clamps IB comprises a long armdesigned 3 up to inoperative position in the manner shown in Fig. 1.

An outboard motor constructed and mounted in the manner described issubjected in operation to severe vibratory stresses under which the woodofthe boatdtransom has-its fibers worn Aor compacted by thelclampingscrews with resultant tendency of the screws to loosen. If suchloosening of the clamps is not quickly observed and remedied there isserious danger, under severe pounding of Waves or engagement withasubmerged bar or obstruction, that the motor may be torn loose and lostoverboard. To prevent a happening of this character thepresent`invention provides securing means for the motor which make impossible aseparation of the motor from the boat transom.

As shown in Figs. 1 4 the securing means com prise a staple device 2|(Figs. 4, 5 and 6) comprisinga baseplate 22 and afloop-23rigidiyrivetedtoit. 'The staple is constructed Vto--be's'tron'gly secured -to thefront'fa'ce of the transom t3 by meansof screws 24%, 2li. Arranged -tocooperate with staple 2l 'is a hasp, slotte'd topass over the loop-2.3of vthe staple. Twopairs of elongated links or Ytension members 2t, 26have their apertured lower ends pivotally connected by rivets 21, A2 tothe hasp 25, and these tension members 25 uarefforrned at theirrfreeends with hooks 26a, Z'a'whichare designed to partially embrace oneYor-the other Vof thescrews i9 `of the mounting clamps it. Toeffectively secure the hasp 25 on the staple 2! a padlock 28 is providedwith shackle 25o to engage the staple.

llt will be understood that in the attachment of the securing means tothe boat transom, the outboard `motor having been mounted on the transomin the usual manner and secured by tightening the clamps, the tensionmembers or links l2t are hooked over the clamp screws in themannerindicated in Figs. l and 2 and, v'with the staple ,yet unattached to the'transom lbut assembled with the hasp, the proper position of thest'aplecan be marked on the transom. The hasp and attached links 26 can 'then`be removed from the staple` and the latter secu'red inits markedposition with the screws 2e. lWith thestaple Athus mounted it isapparent that any substantial movement upward of Vthe motor clampsinrelation to the transom i8 is prevented by.- the securing means. 4Different makes of `outboard motors and different sizes of motors of thesame inake vary more or fless as tothe spacing of the dual clampingscrews and it will be appreciated that; the .construction of oursecuring means is `oarti cu- Alarly well adapted .tofmeet' suchdifferences in motor design. vBecause of the pivotal connection of thetension members 2 5 lto hasp part 25the members .canswing parallel `tothe plane ofthe hasp and the securing means adaptsitself automaticallyto a considerable variation of clamp screw spacing.

fInFig. 2of the drawing the 4propeller of the motor -has been swungAupward out of the water andthe 4motor y'nas wbeen turned (in mountingybracket I5) Ytobring the tiller 28 in line with or -directlyin front ofthe staple f2i. This permits theishackle 28a of the rpadlock28 toembrace the tiller -arrn Zilso that `the lock serves effectively bothto-lock the outboard motor to the boat and to secure the motor in itsinoperative position. This .feature of the invention is a factor which`to some fextent .aifects the design of the securing means since thecombined length of the hasp and link parts of the device needs to besuch as to locate the staple on the transom at a point adjacent to thetiller arm when it is swung down to the inoperative position shown in-Fig. 2

I'tfwi-llbe observed on comparison of Figs. l,

4 and 5, that the hasp 25 when locked in position on the staple 2leifectively prevents access to and tampering with the securing screws24, 24. The embo'dii'nent of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 isparticularly suitable for use with boats -having plain transoms orsternboards. For 'use with transoms having stern posts V4a-formiof `theinvention such as is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is provided. Here thetransom '3i is tted with a stern post or brace 32 which is straddled bythe motor mounting clamps i6 and which prevents theA use of a singleanchoring staple in the manner shown in Figs. l and 2. Accordingly, asshown, in Fig. 'L 'two 'such staples 2l are mounted, 'one` on'e'ither'side'ofthe stern post 32. For cooperation with 'each staple thereQisprovided a hasp`25 to which one pair of linksjZG, 2t are pivotallyconnected by rivet 2. 'As in the case of the rst described construction'the links 2 6 have their free ends formed with hooks '26a to` engagethe screws of the motor clamps i6. Each Vstaple is provided with asecuring .padlock 28 'and either of 'the twolocks can be employed tolool; the tiller-arm of the motor with Ythe latterin inoperativeposition asshown in Fig. 2. The 'securing means 25. 25 shown kin Figs. 7and 8 can be employed in lieu of 'that shown in Figs. l and 2,y as willbe apparent 'from inspection 'of Fig. 9 showing thel tension bars 2tspread in position top 'evngage thescrews of ttlie two `motor clamps.Naturally when this form of constructon'is to be used in the manner last'referredvto the Aparts should `bemade withfadjeouate strength to secureboth 'clamps of the motor instead of one only.

It will 'be readily appreciated 'that lthe 'forms of construction whi`chhave 'already been described ca'n be varied in carrying 4outfth'e1invention. One such variation is 'shown in, Fig. l0 in which the hasp25 'is tted with linlfis 33 havi'ng'their free ends enlarged-'at 33aand'aper- .tu'red 4to pass over the swivelled discs 'of 4the clampingscrew and engage the stern "of the `sc1cW,each of the -parts 3'3AbeingVpivo'tallyrsecured by a rivet 34 tothe hasn 25. I t will be apparentvthat 'the links Stof thisl'ast-des'cribed construction, as well as thelinks of the other constructions, have at 'their free endsa down# Wardlyopen loop formation to 'receive andernbrace a screw shank of the motorclamp.

From an inspection of'thejseveral 'forms of construction of theseouringfmeans yit will be apparent -that theyv are simply constructed,easy to vr'nanipulat'e and yuse and 'can bel produced at moderate cost,many of the parts of thesecuring means being designed :tojbefstain'ped'from sheet metal. By forming the, parts 'Ofstee'iof suitable dualityfor hardening they may be Agiven .great strength "and 'a degree -ofhardness suitable to discourage tampering by unauthorized fp'ersons. The.formation and 'arrangement of the hasp member Aso as to l.p retientaccess Ito 'the securing screws of the staple device has already beennoted.

It will be observed also that the securing means are -so designed as tobe effectively seoured to the anchoring staple by the padlockv when themotor is not mounted on the boat as well as during use of the motor andthus there is little likelihood of misplacement or loss of any part ofthe securing means.

It is to be understood that practice of the invention is not intended tobe limited to the particular embodiments of the invention which havebeen specifically illustrated and described but that the invention canbe embodied in other essentially equivalent forms.

What is claimed is:

Lockable securing means for outboard boat motors having dual-screwclamping means with downwardly open jaws constructed vto embrace the topedge part of a boat transom, the said securing means comprising a stapledevice having an opening and constructed to be fixedly secured to theinner face of a boat transom and means separate from the staple devicefor disengageably connecting the screws of such a clamping means to thestaple, said separate means including a ilat hasp part apertured to passover the staple and leave the opening of the latter exposed to receivethe shackle of a padlock and a plurality of elongated links eachpivotally con- 6 nected at one end to the hasp for movement parallel tothe plane of the hasp, the free ends of the links having hook formationsto engage the clamp screws.

MICHAEL D. CONSOLO. GEORGE V. CLANTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the

